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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. A set of six musicians who perform a composition written for six parts.






2. One or more vocalists performing without an accompaniment.






3. A hymn sung by the choir and congregation often in unison.






4. Made up of five horizontal parallel lines and the spaces between them on which musical notation is written.






5. Tones used to embellish the principal melodic tone.






6. A short light musical drama.






7. A system of notation for stringed instruments. The notes are indicated by the finger positions.






8. A separate section of a larger composition.






9. Movement in music where the characteristics are crisp and direct.






10. A dance written in triple time - where the accent falls on the first beat of each measure.






11. A book of text containing the words of an opera.






12. A portion of the range of the instrument or voice.






13. A whole note is equal to 2 half notes - 4 quarter notes - 8 eighth notes - etc.






14. A short piano piece - often improvisational and intimate in character.






15. A short or brief sonata.






16. A musical form where the melody or tune is imitated by individual parts at regular intervals. The individual parts may enter at different measures and pitches. The tune may also be played at different speeds - backwards - or inverted.






17. Male singers who were castrated to preserve their alto and soprano vocal range.






18. Where the musical themes and melodies are developed - written in sonata form.






19. To repeat a previous part of a composition generally after other music has been played.






20. The range of an instrumental or a vocal part.






21. Music written for chorus and orchestra. Most often religious in nature.






22. A whole note is equal to 2 half notes - 4 quarter notes - 8 eighth notes - etc.






23. A successive transposition and repetition of a phrase at different pitches.






24. A symbol in sheet music that returns a note to its original pitch after it has been augmented or diminished.






25. Direction to performer to play a composition in a brisk - lively - and spirited manner.






26. A composition based on previous work. A common technique used in Medieval and Renaissance music.






27. The expression the performer brings when playing his instrument.






28. Two notes that differ in name only. The notes occupy the same position.For example: C sharp and D flat.






29. The interval between two notes. Three whole tones and one semitone make up the distance between the two notes.






30. Dull - monotonous tone such as a humming or buzzing sound. Also a bass note held under a melody.






31. Combination of two or more keys being played at the same time.






32. A scale consisting of only whole-tone notes. Such a scale consists of only 6 notes.






33. An extended solo - often accompanying the vocal part of an aria.






34. The frequency of a note determining how high or low it sounds.






35. A canon where the melody is sung in two or more voices. After the first voice begins - the next voice starts singing after a couple of measures are played in the preceding voice. All parts repeat continuously.






36. A musical composition written solely to improve technique. Often performed for artistic interest.






37. A curve over notes to indicate that a phrase is to be played legato.






38. Music of a particular form consisting of four movements. Each of the movements differ in tempo - rhythm - and melody; but are held together by subject and style.






39. A set of five musicians who perform a composition written for five parts.






40. A composition written for eight instruments.






41. A combination of two or more staves on which all the notes are vertically aligned and performed simultaneously in differing registers and instruments.






42. The seventh note of the scale where there is a strong desire to resolve on the tonic.






43. An important characteristic of the Romantic period. It is a style where the strict tempo is temporarily abandoned for a more emotional tone.






44. A symbol indicating the note is to be raised by one semitone.






45. Word to indicate that the movement or entire composition is to be played smoothly.






46. The unit of measure where the beats on the lines of the staff are divided up into two - three - four beats to a measure.






47. Slow and stately dance music written in triple time.






48. A direction in sheet music indicating the tempo is to be very fast.






49. A composition written for three to six voices. Beginning with the exposition - each voice enters at different times - creating counterpoint with one another.






50. The first tone of a scale also known as a keynote.